It hasn’t been a fixture that has been too kind to the Wanderers Westfield W-League side in the past, but they are ready to turn the tables on Melbourne Victory at Latrobe City Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Equal leaders on the competition table, the Red & Black will be looking to maintain their stunning start to the season as they chase a fourth straight win from as many games.
But this game against the defending W-League premiers looms as perhaps their toughest test of the season to date, especially given they have managed just one win in 11 encounters with the Victorians.
The Wanderers’ only win against Victory came during the 2015/16 season, though they have also managed five draws.
Still, this is a far different Wanderers side with the club having invested heavily this season in a squad full of quality players from overseas and locally.
As a result, head coach Dean Heffernan’s new look Wanderers have been the talk of the W-League, producing an exciting, free-flowing brand of football that has impressed fans and critics alike.
Having had hard-fought wins against Adelaide United (2-1) and the Newcastle Jets (1-0), the Wanderers really hit their straps in the 3-1 win over Brisbane Roar last week with US internationals Kristen Hamilton and Lynn Williams starring.
In an outstanding display of attacking football, Hamilton created history in becoming the first player to score a hat-trick for the club. Her pace and skill were far too much for the Roar defence to handle.
However, she was well supported by Williams, who was unlucky not to open her Wanderers goalscoring account and midfielder Ella Mastrantonio.
The good thing is that every player in the side is playing their part for the Wanderers.
It will be an interesting couple of weeks for the Wanderers as they will face competition leaders, defending champions and arch-rivals Sydney FC in the Sydney Derby at Bankwest Stadium on December 20 in what could be a dress rehearsal for this season’s grand final.
